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freezing point

freezing point

1 2.8
The temperature at which a liquid becomes solid at normal air pressure
  • noun
  • /ˈfriːzɪŋ pɔɪnt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : punto de congelación
  • At that temperature, oxygen and nitrogen are still gases—barely—but it's way below the freezing point of water.
  • freezing point of water

That means below freezing point, but still liquid.

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Examples

  • Supercooling is what happens when the temperature of a liquid falls below its freezing point yet doesn't freeze.

    Academic text (2007)
  • With that, the average temperature on Mars would still be below the freezing point of water, but in some places it might rise above it.

  • That means below freezing point, but still liquid.

  • For domestic flights within the US, Jet A's freezing point is just fine.

  • Tomorrow morning, the Essex marshes will be several degrees below freezing point.

  • The weather also doesn't help, with temperatures often dropping below freezing point as early as October.

    Blog text (8)
  • When pure water is carefully cooled, it can remain liquid somewhat below freezing point.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The fishing will likely only get tougher as temperatures hover around the freezing point tonight and into tomorrow morning.

    Blog text (5)
  • We used to believe that a planet capable of sustaining life would be one where temperatures stayed generally between the boiling and freezing points of water.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Alcohol has a lower freezing point than water.

Antonyms

boiling point
  • Specialized
4 3.4

The temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas at normal air pressure

How Hot

boiling point
  • Specialized
4 3.4
cold
1.0
freezing point
  • Specialized
1 2.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

freezing + point

The meaning 'the temperature at which a liquid changes to a solid' is directly and compositionally derived from 'freezing' (the process of solidifying) plus 'point' (a specific value/stage). This literal noun-noun combination follows standard scientific naming patterns and appears similarly across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Freezing point comes from a simple picture: imagine water turning into ice at one exact temperature. The word freezing shows the liquid is becoming solid and point marks that exact temperature, so the phrase means the temperature where a liquid 'changes to a solid'.